Cover image courtesy of Racingfotos.com
The weekend delivered a thrilling showcase of top-class racing across England, Ireland, and Canada, featuring seven prestigious Group 1 victories.
England and Ireland
Historic battle in G1 The St Leger
In an outstanding renewal of Doncaster's G1 St Leger on Saturday, it was the much-missed colossus Galileo (Ire) who had his inimitable stamp on proceedings with his sons 3-year-old colt Jan Brueghel (Ire) and Illinois (Ire) waging war in a clear demonstration of one of the most common characteristics of his breed.
Free initially for jockey Sean Levey with the pace set by the other Galileo in the works Grosvenor Square (Ire) not as exacting as was expected, the 11-4 joint-favourite was restrained to sit 3l off the lead and soon settled into a more suitable rhythm for this extended 14-furlong stamina test. Delivered alongside the other marker-leader Illinois as they came to have it between them approaching the two-furlong pole, the G3 International S. and G3 Gordon S. winner took until the last 100 yards to truly assert his superiority and prevail by a neck.
There was another 1.5l and a nose back to Deira Mile (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in third and fourth, but the stewards saw fit to reverse those placings and provide the latter with a second Classic placing. Jan Brueghel is now unbeaten in four starts.
Levey, the former Ballydoyle apprentice who was winning a second British Classic, was impressed by the Westerberg colour-bearer who was providing Galileo with his 101st group 1 winner. “It was very straightforward,” he said after helping Aidan O'Brien to an eighth St Leger. “He was willing, but still babyish and did it well with a bit in reserve. He's a nice horse going forward and could be anything.”
Jan Brueghel is out of Devoted To You (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) whose past star Galileo colt Sovereign (Ire) dominated the G1 Irish Derby from the front in 2019. Her other significant performer by the sire is the G1 Irish St Leger third Dawn Rising (Ire), so stamina was always going to be the winner's strong suit. Runner-up in the G2 Debutante S., Devoted To You is a half-sister to four stakes winners, most notably Humble Eight (USA) (Seattle Battle {USA}) who captured the G3 Honeybee S.
Economics wins G1 Irish Champions S. with tactical ride
Tom Marquand had a tactical dilemma from the outside stall in Saturday's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown, but what could have been a disaster was quickly turned around as the rider excelled in steering Isa Salman Al Khalifa's 3-year-old colt Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) to glory in the feature. Sent forward from the compromising draw to keep Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) hemmed in to his inner, the 7-4 favourite had first run on last year's winner and swooped to the front approaching the furlong pole.
Briefly headed by his chief market rival soon after, the game chestnut dug in to quickly regain the advantage and assert for a thrilling neck success in this 'Win and You're In' for the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf. Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) was 0.75l behind in third in another epic renewal of this contest. Economics has won four of his five starts and this was his first at Group 1 level.
“I am just thrilled and for Shaikh Isa and William it is just huge,” Marquand said. “I changed my plan a few times to be honest–there were a couple of times I felt like I had picked up into a nice position and for whatever reason I wasn't quite happy there, so I just moved on a little bit further and he possesses that really nice trait of being able to light up and shut back down 10 strides later. I had moments when I was worried, but he has always felt like he was there for it and Auguste Rodin obviously showed up every bit as good as we were expecting.”
“He's a proper warrior and is very, very talented.” Economics is out of Guy Reed's La Pomme D'Amour (GB) (Peintre Celebre {USA}), whose career tally featured two wins in the 12.5-furlong G2 Prix de Pomone. The family features one of his breakthrough performers in Warpath (GB), his Ebor-winning half-brother Dakota (Ire), and the group performer Apache (GB).
Porta Fortuna adds G1 Matron S. to Group 1 tally
Proving herself the complete racing machine on Saturday, Medallion Racing, Steve Weston, Barry Fowler and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio {USA}) added Leopardstown's G1 Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron S. to her already enviable top-level tally with the minimum of fuss. Coming of age this summer with wins in the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Falmouth S., the pride and joy of Donnacha O'Brien's stable who had also captured last year's G1 Cheveley Park S. was a touch free and fresh in the hands of Tom Marquand behind the early pace.
Dispelling any idea of a contest with her superior acceleration between the two and the one, the 5-4 favourite took command there before appearing to stargaze in front en route to a 1l defeat of Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in this qualifier for the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Soprano (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) was third, 0.5l away in third.
“She's an incredible filly,” Donnacha O'Brien said. “She shows up every day. It's a huge honour to train her and I'm lucky to have her. It's a huge honour to have the filly and she's very special. We'll take her home and see how she is but all things being well, we'll be going to Del Mar. She'll get an easy week or two. I'll have to confirm with the owners, but we had it in our heads that if she won here she'd skip Newmarket and we'd prep her for America.”
Now the winner of seven of her 11 starts including three Group 1 wins in succession, Porta Fortuna's is the first foal out of Too Precious (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), a full sister to the triple Australian Group 2 winner and G1 Australian Cup runner-up Numerian (Ire) and the G3 Prix Francois Boutin-placed Montesilvano (Ire). This is the Fittocks Stud family of the G1 St Leger hero Milan (GB) (Sadler's Wells {USA}), the Derby and Irish Derby-winning sire Kahyasi (Ire) and the G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Key Change (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}).
Cox Plate potential for G2 Solonaway S. winner Diego Velazquez
Team Ballydoyle’s 3-year-old colt Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) won Saturday’s the G2 Solonaway S. at Leopardstown. Not seen since beating the subsequent G3 Snow Fairy Fillies S. winner Tarawa (Ire) (Shamardal) by 7l in the nine-furlong G3 Meld S. here due to his intended target at Saratoga being abandoned, the 10-11 favourite was quickly into his stride shadowing the leader.
Sent to the front by Ryan Moore approaching the furlong pole, the half-brother to his Australia (GB)-sired heavyweight stablemates Broome (Ire) and Point Lonsdale (Ire) who had captured the G2 Champions Juvenile S. on this card 12 months ago stretched to a 1.5l verdict over course specialist Mutasarref (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
“He's a lovely, straightforward, genuine horse,” Aidan O'Brien said. “He has pace enough for a mile and will probably get a mile and a quarter. He's a lovely, relaxed, uncomplicated horse. Christophe (Soumillon) rode him in the French Guineas and said 'this horse is going to win a group 1 very quick' after it. Then it just went a little bit wrong on us, we went to the French Derby and it was the wrong thing as it came too quick and then up to a mile and a half at Ascot which was the wrong thing as well. He's a speed horse and he can go to the Breeder's Cup Mile or a Cox Plate. Adelaide was third in a trial in France on this weekend 10 years ago and he won the Cox Plate.”
Purchased by MV Magnier and White Birch Farm for 2.4 million guineas (AU$4.92 million) at the 2022 Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale, Diego Velasquez is a sharper type than his aforementioned half-siblings, with the seven-times Group winner and G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hero Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and his five-times Group-winning full brother Point Lonsdale (Ire) coming into their own over a mile and a half plus. He is the last foal out of the Listed National S. winner Sweepstake (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), whose half-sister Luxuria (Ire) (Kheleyf {USA}) is the second dam of the G3 Hackwood S. and G3 Prix de Cabourg winner Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) and his Listed Ripon Champion 2-Year-Old Trophy-winning full-brother Soldier's Heart (GB).
Frankel's influence on this family comes via the stable's G2 Futurity S. winner and G1 Irish Derby runner-up Rostropovich (Ire) and the G3 Prix d'Aumale winner Toulifaut (Ire), while Frankel's sire Galileo is responsible for the stable's triple Group 3 winner Ernest Hemingway (Ire). The distinguished family of Zoffany (Ire) also features the recent surprise G2 Flower Bowl S. winner Idea Generation (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).
New Bay son wins G2 Champagne S.
Doncaster's G2 Champagne S. lost a key actor on Saturday as Cheveley Park Stud's Chancellor (GB) (Kingman {GB}) was withdrawn at the start, leaving it to Victorious Racing's acquisition, 2-year-old colt Bay City Roller (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), to extend his perfect sequence to three in the seven-furlong staging post. Always travelling smoothly tracking the free-running Righthere Rightnow (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}), the George Scott-trained Sandown and Chelmsford novice winner who had been sold by Clive Washbourn after his debut was sent forward by Callum Shepherd to take control with 1.5 furlongs remaining.
Staying on strongly as Monumental (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) gave chase, the 9-2 shot had 0.5l to spare over that Ballydoyle runner at the line, with the other Aidan O'Brien runner Aftermath (Ire) (Justify {USA}) 2.5l away in third.
“He probably got a little bit lonely in front, but he's got a really good attitude and tries very hard–he's a special horse to us,” Scott said. “I will think about supplementing for the (G1 Prix Jean-Luc) Lagardere or the (G1) Dewhurst. I quite like the Lagardere for him. He's very well-balanced and that track might really suit him a bit better than Newmarket. I'll talk to Sheikh Nasser and see what he thinks. He hasn't surprised me at all, I've been a bit obsessed with him, to be honest. I've stuck my neck out and asked Sheikh Nasser to buy the horse, he did that on my recommendation and I'm just relieved. He could end up coming back here for the Futurity, no doubt he will get another furlong and the timing might fit Lagardere and Futurity but we will see.”
Bay City Roller, who was providing his sire with his 10th Group winner, is out of the dual Listed winner and dual Group-placed Bloomfield (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) who is kin to the G3 Athasi S. winner Prima Luce (Ire) by Teofilo's (Ire) sire Galileo. She is in turn the dam of the Listed King Richard III S. scorer and G2 Connaught Cup runner-up Emmaus (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), while the third dam Rahaam (USA) (Secreto {USA}) proved a key broodmare in producing the high-class sprinter Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and sire Verglas (Ire).
Cassandra Go produced the triple Group 1-winning Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), responsible for the similarly high-achieving Galileo pair of Magical (Ire) and Rhododendron (Ire), dam of the brilliant Auguste Rodin.
Another Group winner for Wootton Bassett
Handed the unenviable task of taking on the might of Ballydoyle in Leopardstown's G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S. on Saturday, Marc Chan's homebred 2-year-old colt Green Impact (Ire) (Wootton Bassett (GB}) proved up to the task to provide his owner-breeder with a red-letter day. The first horse bred by Chan, the Jessica Harrington-trained relative of Power (GB) and Footstepsinthesand (GB) had half a length to spare at the line over Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) as Bernard Shaw (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) faded to be a further 0.75l away in third. Green Impact has booked a place in the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar in November but will be going out for a spell instead. He has now won two of his three starts.
“He's pretty good and is very relaxed, but that was hard work there into the headwind and he keeps on finding,” Harrington said. “He's a very big horse and I think we haven't seen the best of him yet. He's going to be put away until next year. We can dream all winter; I suppose we'll start at a Guineas and see from there. I'd love to win a Derby! He's out of a Galileo mare, so there's no reason he won't get a mile and a half.”
Green Impact, who provided a quickfire double for his sire on the afternoon following the Listed Ingabelle S. success of his daughter Chantez (Ire), is the first foal out of the former Ballydoyle representative Emerald Green (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) who was snapped up by Chan for 475,000gns (AU$973,000) at 2021 Tattersalls December. A half-sister to the stakes winners Mirage (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Amnesia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), she put in her best effort over an extended 13 furlongs, albeit in moderate company given her connections at the time. Emerald Green is also kin to another Ballydoyle runner in the sprinter Alphabet (GB) (Lawman {Fr}), who was second in the Flying Five when it was a Group 2. Her dam Applauded (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}) is a half to the aforementioned G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Power and Galileo's GI E.P. Taylor S. heroine Curvy (GB), who is the dam of this year's G3 Prix Six Perfections winner Angeal (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).
Canada
Mark Casse earns third G1 Woodbine Mile
Mark Casse-trained 5-year-old entire Win for the Money (USA) (Mohaymen {USA}) slipped through at the fence following a ground-saving journey to upend pacesetting stablemate Filo Di Arianna (Brz) (Drosselmeyer {USA}) in the G1 Rogers Woodbine Mile and punch his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar on November 2. He took his record to five wins from 16 starts and it was his first win at Grade 1 level.
It was the third Woodbine Mile for Casse, who saddled the great Tepin (USA) (Bernstein {USA}) to beat the boys in 2016 and Live Oak's World Approval (USA) (Northern Afleet {USA}) in 2017. Owners Live Oak also won the 2006 GI Breeders' Cup Mile with champion Miesque's Approval (USA) (With Approval {USA}).
“I must say, I give out respect to Mark (Casse),” said jockey Patrick Husbands, whose other Mile triumph came in 2001 with Numerous Times (USA) (Numerous {USA}). “I had a perfect trip. I figured, from reading the Racing Form, if I come off the pace, it's my best chance. So, when he breaks, and he breaks so relaxed, I was happy. I was behind (jockey, William) Buick, he has a nice horse (Naval Power), and I knew when it's time for him to go, I just got to follow him. So, he followed him the whole way.”
Win for the Money is the first Grade I winner for Mohaymen (USA) and his third winner at the Graded level overall. A half-brother to Price Talk (USA), a stakes winner on turf and dirt, Win for the Money is out of a half-sister to Juniper Pass (USA) (Lemon Drop Kid {USA}), who excelled at turf marathon trips, and Charming Kid (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), Group 2-placed over six furlongs in England. Win for the Money's fourth dam is Terlingua (USA), most recognizable as the dam of the legendary and influential Storm Cat (USA).
G1 Summer S. won by first-season sire Kameko’s New Century
Britain's first-crop Kitten's Joy (USA) stallion Kameko (USA) got his first Grade I victory Saturday across the pond with Qatar Racing's 2-year-old colt New Century (GB) (Kameko {USA}) who captured the GI bet365 Summer S. at Woodbine for conditioner Andrew Balding and earned a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' berth to the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar in November. Al Qudra (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}), a Charlie Appleby shipper whom New Century chased home in July at Ascot in the Pat Eddery S., was second, while the more local Mark Casse trainee Dream On (USA) (Not This Time {USA}), who finished second in Woodbine's Soaring Free S. last month and caused some excitement down the lane Saturday, finished third.
“He's a small horse, and he's fairly light on his feet,” said Balding's assistant Leanne White. “He sort of skips over the ground.” New Century has won three of his five starts.
With New Century's Summer win, Tweenhills Farm and Stud's freshman sire Kameko becomes the third Northern Hemisphere-based first-crop stallion and first European-based first-crop stallion to breach the Grade 1-winning ranks of 2024. A son of Kitten's Joy based in Britain, Kameko's own two Group 1 victories included the 2020 G1 2000 Guineas. With 10 winners to date in his initial crop of runners, Kameko has a second stakes performer in Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB).
New Century is out of the Street Cry (Ire) mare Potent Embrace (USA), who was picked up by David Redvers from the Godolphin consignment at the 2016 Goffs November sale for €150,000 (AU$248,000). Redvers also famously bought Kameko as a $90,000 (AU$149,000) yearling at the 2018 Keeneland September sale.
Potent Embrace previously produced Group winner Passion and Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). A half-sister to G3 Dubai 2000 Guineas winner Kinglet (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}), the mare is out of British and US Group winner Karen's Caper (USA) (War Chant {USA}).
Full Count Felicia runs them ragged in G1 EP Taylor
Just one week removed from a victory in the G1 Franklin-Simpson S. by Howard Wolowitz (USA) (Munnings {USA}), Al Gold's Gold Square LLC was again front and centre in top-level competition when Full Count Felicia (USA) (War Front {USA}) kept up a relentless gallop beneath Kazushi Kimura and proved not for catching in Saturday's G1 E.P. Taylor S. at Woodbine. The $85,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic breezer was already well clear rounding the first turn and she continued to tear away from her four remaining rivals, who were content enough to allow her to flaunt her speed, reasoning that she would come back to them at some point.
But come back to them she did not. A good 12l in front after a half mile in a strong 0:48.19, Full Count Felicia opened up the advantage to the better part of 15l passing the half-mile marker before turning down the side of the track. She won by 3.5l from stablemate Moira (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}).
“Never in a million years,” said trainer Kevin Attard. “I thought Fev Rover and Full Count Felicia would, kind of, you know, duke it out a little bit early. She set an honest pace, I thought. And you know, the I looked around at the three-eighths, and she had an insurmountable lead, and I'm thinking, 'Is she gonna stop?' Like, she'd have to come to a dead walk at this point. But you know, she's a nice filly. I don't think she got the respect she deserved. Thought her race in the Canadian last start was really impressive. And I think she's just improving, just getting better with each start.” She is now the winner of seven of her 18 starts.
Full Count Felicia is the 25th international Grade 1/Group 1 winner for War Front (USA) and is the 58th Group 1 winner out of a mare by Galileo.
Full Count Felicia is out of Claire De Lune (Ire), a French Listed-placed half-sister to L'Ancresse (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), a stakes winner and runner-up in the G1 Irish Oaks and second in the 2003 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Among the latter's eight winners from 11 to race are Group 3 winner Master of Reality (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), also third in a G1 Ascot Gold Cup; French Group 2 winner Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and SW Chamonix (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
L'Ancresse's Irish Oaks-winning half-sister Moonstone (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) produced six winners, chief among them G3 Chester Vase and G1 Investec Derby runner-up U S Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Another half-sister, Cerulean Sky (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) winner of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary and second in the 1999 E. P. Taylor, bred the top stayer Honolulu (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}).
Casse breaks G1 Natalma S. drought with trifecta
Trainer Mark Casse had won the G1 Natalma S. for 2-year-old fillies no fewer than seven times dating back to Woodford Racing's Sprung (USA) (Grand Slam {USA}) back in 2006, but he had not succeeded since 2016, when Victory to Victory (USA) (Exchange Rate {USA}) carried the silks of Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Stud. He broke the drought in fine style with the trifecta led by Live Oak's And One More Time (USA) (Omaha Beach {USA}). D J Stable-owned stablemates Vixen (USA) (Vekoma {USA}) and Nitrogen (USA) (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) were second and third.
And One More Time, who has two wins from three starts, continued a purple patch of form for Spendthrift-based sire Omaha Beach (USA) providing his first Grade 1 winner and ninth stakes winner. Recently Omaha Beach's daughter Caitlinhergrtness (USA) beat the boys in the King's Plate over the local synthetic surface, while E J Won the Cup (USA) added the St. Louis Derby to his previous success in the Texas Derby.
A daughter of Complicated (USA) (Blame {USA}), And One More Time's family has picked up plenty of steam this year owing to the exploits of Honor D Lady (USA) (Honor Code {USA}), who recently picked up the third Graded stakes of her career in the G2 Delaware H. The winner's year-older half-sister Simply In Front (USA) (Summer Front {USA}), runner-up in last year's Natalma, has also done her part with a last-to-first victory in the $1.76 million G2 Music City S. at Kentucky Downs on September 7. Third dam Educated Risk (USA) was herself a Grade 1 winner at two, taking out the 1992 Frizette S., and her half-sister Inside Information (USA) (Private Account {USA}) was named the Eclipse champion older female after demolishing the field in the 1995 G1 Breeders' Cup Distaff.
